Pope Francis washes the feet of an inmate at Casal del Marmo juvenile prison in 2023 / Associated Press video screengrab / YouTube
CV NEWS FEED // One of the final acts of Pope Francis is now coming to light: a personal donation of 200,000 euros (about $227,000 USD) to support a youth rehabilitation project inside a Roman prison.
Monsignor Benoni Ambarus, who oversaw charity and prison ministry in Rome during Pope Francis’ pontificate, revealed the story to Italian media following the pope’s death, Euronews reported.
According to Monsignor Ambarus, Pope Francis gave the money from his personal account to help pay off a large mortgage tied to a pasta-making initiative run inside Casal del Marmo, a juvenile detention center.
“I told him that we have a big mortgage for this pasta factory and if we can reduce it we will lower the price of pasta, sell more and hire more boys,” Monsignor Ambarus recalled, according to Euronews. “He replied, ‘Almost all my money is finished, but I still have something in my account.’ And he gave me €200,000.”
The gift was not an isolated gesture, but consistent with Pope Francis’ broader witness. Monsignor Ambarus also described the pope’s frailty during his final Holy Thursday visit to the Regina Coeli prison.
“I remember a tired man, whose body was frail,” he said.
However, Monsignor Ambarus noted that the pope’s presence demanded the prisoners’ attention.
“He fought for them until his last breath,” he added. “That is why the prisoners saw hope in him.”
Pope Francis’ final months included several powerful moments with incarcerated individuals. In December, during the Jubilee Year inauguration, he opened a Holy Door at Rome’s Rebibbia prison.
According to Monsignor Ambarus, many inmates were deeply saddened by the pope’s death.
“Since Monday I have been receiving messages from people who say they now feel like orphans,” he said. “Some prisoners have asked me to put a flower on [Pope] Francis’ grave for them. I am doing my best so that his favourite children can be at the funeral.”
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